Operating control mechanism for resettable registers



L. MANKE OPERATING CONTROL MECHANISM FOR RESETTABLE REGISTERS I 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1968 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS E K N A M L W m s U G Aug. 11, 197

G. L," MANKE OPERATING CONTROL MECHANISM FOR RESETTABLE REGISTERS Filed Feb. 15, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet. :3

United States Patent US. Cl. 235-444 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A resettable register mechanism for a fuel dispensing apparatus utilizes an operating control module suited for mounting on existing registers and adapted for single handle manual operation. The handle is suitably connected to the register through a first one-way drive to deactivate the fuel dispensing operation and preferably load both a reset spring and a control plate drive spring during one angular movement of the handle and is operatively connected through a second one-way drive to preferably condition the register for being reset, release the loaded reset spring to reset the register and release the drive spring to condition the register for registering during the opposite angular movement of the handle.

BACKGROUND AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to resettable registers of the type employed in a fluid dispensing apparatus such as a gasoline pump. More particularly it is directed to a new and improved operating control mechanism for such registers. Typical of the reset mechanisms to which the present invention is directed are the structures shown and described in US. Pat. No. 2,932,448 of Harvey N. Bliss dated Apr. 12, 1960 and entitled Resetting Mechanism for Counters and U8. Pat. No. 3,332,- 619 of E. C. Ambler et al. dated July 25, 1967 and entitled Counter Reset Mechanism.

Conventionally fuel dispensing apparatus has included resettable registers which employ a rotatable center shaft extending through the register and connected to a manually operated control lever mounted on the exterior thereof adjacent the usual fuel nozzle storage receptacle for rotation between ON and OFF positions. The center shaft preferably mounts a cam assembly on one end thereof for shifting the shaft of the cost and volume counters of the register to thereby condition the number wheels of the counters for either resetting or registering operations. Additionally, the center shaft carries a control plate on the opposite end thereof for loading a reset spring which is subsequently released for resetting the volume and cost counters. The manual lever is also connected to activate and deactivate the dispensing apparatus for delivery of fuel as by turning on and off the usual fuel pump motor when the exterior manual lever is pivoted between its ON and OFF positions. In the reset mechanism of the aforementioned -U.S. Pat. No. 2,932,448 the center shaft is connected for operation by the manual lever in a manner which effects a shift of the counter shafts for conditioning the number wheels for being reset immediately after a fuel delivery as the manual control level is moved toice ward its OFF position. Coincident with that movement of the control lever, the pump motor is turned off and the control plate of the register is rotated to load the reset spring for subsequent resetting the number wheels prior to a succeeding fuel delivery. The control lever may be suitably retained in its OFF position until after the loaded reset spring is released to reset the number wheels of the cost and volume counters to zero, such as by activation of a reset button or the resetting operation may take place during the initial angular movement of the manual lever toward its ON position. Thereafter, with the dispensing nozzle removed from its receptacle, the manual lever is fully pivoted to reshift the counter shafts and condition the number wheels for normal operation, that is, for registering the cost and volume of the succeeding delivery. Thus, it can be seen that such a dispensing apparatus conditions the number wheels of the counter for reset and loads the reset spring upon rotation of the manual lever to its OFF position immediately upon completion of a fuel delivery and subsequently resets the counters and reshifts the counter shafts for registering immediately prior to a subsequent fuel delivery.

However, due to the potential inadvertent displacement of the number wheels immediately after a fuel delivery by the conditioning thereof for being reset and the potential inaccuracies resulting therefrom, the resettable register industry has directed its efforts toward a reset mechanism which delays the shift of the counter shafts for resetting the register until immediately prior to a suc ceeding fuel delivery. Typical of such eiforts is the reset mechanism shown and described in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,332,619, which includes a pair of manually operated levers, a reset crank group lever being employed in addition to the manual lever conventionally associated with the center shaft of the register. In that mechanism pivotal movement of the center lever to its OFF position rotates the control plate to load the reset spring but retains the counter shafts in their normal operating positions thereby obviating inadvertent displacement of the number wheels immediately after a fuel delivery. Thereafter, before initiating a subsequent fuel delivery, the operator is required to first actuate the separate crank group lever to shift the shafts of the counters to condition the number wheels for being reset and to release the reset spring for resetting the number wheels. Following the resetting operation the manual lever connected to the center shaft is rotated to its ON position to reshift the counter shafts and thereby recondition the register for a normal registering operation while at the same time rendering the fluid dispensing apparatus operative for dispensing fluid. However, as can be appreciated, such a delay shaft shift mechanism separates the resetting operation from the conditioning of the number wheels for registering and in so doing requires the separate manipulation of at least two different manually operated levers in order to render the apparatus operative for a fuel delivery.

It is therefore a principal aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved reset mechanism of the type described which incorporates the advantages while obviating the disadvantages of the aforementioned reset mechanisms by simplifying the resetting operation required of the operator and retaining the desired delayed shifting of the counter shaft to condition the number wheels of the register for being reset. Accordingly, this object includes the provision for automatic conditioning, resetting and reconditioning of the number wheels immediately prior to a fluid dispensing operation thereby obviating incorrect registration of the fluid delivery due to inadvertent movement of the number wheels while requiring only the simple pivotal actuation of a single manual lever immediately prior to a fluid delivery in order to reset and recondition the register for registering a fluid delivery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved counter reset mechanism of simplified construction and automatic operation whereby the conditioning of the number wheels for resetting, the resetting of the Wheels to zero and the subsequent reconditioning of the wheels for registering are all effected automatically by the manipulation of a single manual operator in a single direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fluid dispensing apparatus including a counter reset mechanism of the type described which is particularly adapted to control the dispensing operation with a minimum of operative movements on the part of the operator and simplify the dispensing operation without drastically altering the mechanism presently in use, thus saving time and effort without sacrificing the accuracy or reliability of the mechanism. Included in this object is the provision of a simple but effective conversion module which can be quickly and easily mounted on the mechanism described hereinbefore to incorporate therein the advantageous operation of the control unit of the present invention.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

In accordance with the present invention these and related objects are accomplished by providing a single handle register conversion unit which includes a oneway drive between the handle and a rotatable control member operable to load the reset spring during movement of the handle to its OFF position and sequencing means operable upon movement of the handle to its ON position to sequentially and automatically condition the register for being reset, reset the register and condition the register for registering.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation view of a register of the type described illustrating the control plate and associated mechanism to which is mounted the new and improved operating control module of the present invention, the register being shown in its position during a fuel dispensing operation;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of one embodiment of an operating control module suitable for mounting on the end of the register illustrated in FIG. 1 and showing the gear train development with the single manually operated control handle in its OFF position;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating the gear arrangement within the module with the control handle of the apparatus in its OFF position;

FIG. 4 is a partial end elevation view of the opposite end of the register shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the counter reset mechanism when the control lever of the fluid dispensing apparatus is in its OFF position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the position of the reset mechanism during the resetting of the registers number wheels;

4 FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating another embodiment of the operating control module of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the module of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures, there is shown in FIG. 1 a resettable register 10 similar to that described in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,332,619 which readily incorporates an embodiment of the improved operating control mechanism of the present invention, such as the module units illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7. The operating control modules are easily mounted on one end of both conventional and delayed shaft shift registers and are readily coupled to the center and trip shafts thereof for manipulation by the single manually operated control lever or handle 14. The register 10 is of the type conventionally employed in fuel dispensing apparatus for registering the cost and volume of each fuel delivery and includes cost and volume counters rotatably mounted on shiftable shafts 12 on each side of the register to enable the operator and/or the customer to observe the reading on the register from opposite sides of the dispensing apparatus. Since the construction and operation of the cost and volume counters is substantially unchanged over counters conventionally utilized heretofore, reference may be made to US. Pat. No. 3,332,619 and other patents referred to therein for a detailed description and understanding thereof.

In general, upon completion of a fuel delivery the manually operated control lever 14 located on the exterior of the fuel dispensing apparatus is rotated to its OFF position and in so moving rotates the center shaft 16 of the register in a counterclockwise direction from the fuel delivery position shown in FIG. 1. A control plate 18 is fixedly mounted on the center shaft 16 for rotation with the shaft while a reset drive plate 22 carrying a latch pawl 24 on its outer face is rotatably mounted on the center shaft independently of the rotation of the shaft for resetting the register. The latch pawl 24 pivotally mounted on the reset drive plate 22 cooperates with a shoulder 26 on the control plate 18 to drivingly connect the reset drive plate 22 with the control plate 18 during counterclockwise rotation of the center shaft 16- as viewed in FIG. 1. In this manner both the control plate drive spring 28 (FIG. 2 and a reset drive spring 32 connected to plate 22 are loaded as the control plate 18 is moved in a counterclockwise angular direction out of the fuel delivery position illustrated in FIG. 1. Advantageously, the fuel dispensing apparatus also includes a suitable control operatively connected for deactivating the fuel pump motor or otherwise suitably rendering the apparatus inoperative for dispensing fuel upon counterclockwise rotation of the control plate 18 in response to movement of the manual lever 14 to its OFF position.

Before rendering the apparatus operative for a succeeding fuel delivery, the counters of the register are alternatively conditioned for being reset and for registering the cost and volume of the fuel to be delivered. For this purpose the number wheel supporting shafts 12 of the counters are axially shifted by means of a reciprocal slide 36 (FIG. 5) forming part of the shift control subassembly of the reset mechanism mounted on the end of the register opposite to the end illustrated in FIG. 1. When the shaft conditioning slide 36 is located in the position shown in FIG. 5, the cost and volume number wheels of the register are conditioned for being reset. However, when the cam assembly, generally designated 38, rotates counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5 to shift the slide 36 to the right, the wheel supporting shafts 12 are axially shifted to disengage the individual number wheels from their respective resetting gears and to condition them for being driven in a conventional manner for registering the cost and volume of the fuel delivered with the dispensing apparatus.

While the wheel supporting shafts 12 are in the reset position, the number wheels are individually reset by the reset spring 32 through a drive train which includes a unidirectionally driven reset gear 42 rotatably mounted on the center shaft 16 and suitable additional gearing (not shown) employed for rotating the number wheels to reset them to zero. This conventionally is effected during a 60 angular displacement of the reset gear 42 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. The reset drive plate 22 rotatably mounted on the center shaft 16 coaxially of the control plate 1-8 is located between the control plate and the reset gear 42 and, when released by pawl 24, rotates under the driving action of the loaded reset spring 32 to provide the unidirectional indexing of the reset gear in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 through the cooperative driving engagement of a notched plate; shown and described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,332,619, mounted on the reset gear 42 and a drive pawl 46 pivotally mounted on the reset drive plate 22.

Upon completion of the resetting operation and with the number wheels reset to zero, the control plate 18 is also driven in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 into the position shown in FIG. 1 to simultaneously recondition the register for registering. As mentioned hereinbefore, following a fuel delivery and upon manually rotating the control plate 18 in the counterclockwise di rection as viewed in FIG. 1 from its initial position shown in FIG. 1 against the bias of its drive spring 28, the control plate moves to its extended position for subsequently reconditioning of the register for registering. Simultaneously the latch pawl 24 effects counterclockwise driven movement of the reset drive plate 22 from its initial angular position shown in FIG. 1 to its extended position against the bias of the reset spring 32. The reset spring 32 is thereby loaded for subsequently returning the reset drive plate 22 to its initial position and for thereby simultaneously rotating the reset gear 42 with the drive pawl 46 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 through the desired 60 angular displacement for resetting the number wheels of the register. As will be appreciated the counterclockwise rotation of the lever 14 to its OFF position and the corresponding rotation of the control plate 18 is sufiicient to index the drive pawl 46 to the next succeeding notch in the notch plate. Additionally, it enables the engagement of a pivotal latch pawl 50 with a primary notch shoulder 52 in the control plate 18, which preferably occurs after the drive pawl 46 has been indexed to a succeeding notch of the notch plate to hold the control plate in its extended position against the bias of its drive spring 28 until the number wheels have been fully reset to zero.

The latch pawl 50 is rotatably mounted on a crank or trip shaft 79 which fixedly carries a trip or release pawl 80 operable in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 to engage the tail of the latch pawl 24 and thereby release the reset drive plate 22 for resetting the number wheels. In the register illustrated this reverse or clockwise rotary movement of the reset drive plate 22 is limited by engagement of shoulder 86 on the reset drive plate with a pin 88 carried by the latch pawl 50'. Additionally, just prior to the engagement of the shoulder 86 with the pin 8-8 a cam 90 on the reset drive plate 22 moves the pawl 50 outwardly to release the control plate 18. The control plate is then driven by its drive spring 28 from its extended position to its initial position shown in FIG. 1 to thereby condition the register for registering and reactivating the fuel dispensing apparatus.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 the cam assembly 38, located on the opposite end of the register from the reset drive plate 22, comprises a pair of coaxial cam sections 100, 102 coaxially mounted on the center shaft 16 and a pivotal latch 120 for holding the reset cam 102 in its reset position shown in FIG. 5. The reshift cam 100 is fixed to the center shaft 16 for rotation therewith while the reset cam 102 is mounted for rotation on the center shaft independently of the reshift cam 100'. A suitable stop, such as the abutment between the boss 108 carried by the cam 100 and the crank arm 1-14, limits the clockwise rotation of cam 100 as shown in FIG. 4 and thereby correspondingly restricts rotation of the center shaft 16 during loading of the springs 28, 32. The cams cooperate respectively with rollers 104, 106 mounted on the slide 36 so that after rotation of the control plate 18 to its extended position to move the cam 100 in a clockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 4, the slide 36 can be shifted to the left to the position shown in FIG. 5 for conditioning the number wheels of the counters for being reset. Likewise, when the control plate 18 is returned to its initial position by its drive spring 28 the reshift cam 100 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5 to shift the slide 36 to the right and thereby condition the register for registering the cost and volume of the fuel to be dispensed.

The reset cam 102 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5 for conditioning the number wheels for being reset by a crank arm 114 pivotally mounted on the trip shift 79. The crank arm 114 carries a roller 116 on the outer end thereof for engagement with the reset cam 102 and a pivotal drive pawl 118 biased by spring 115 into cooperative engagement with a notch 112 for drivingly connecting the crank arm 114 to the trip shaft 79 during the counterclockwise rotation of the trip shaft 79 as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5. As the roller 116 on the crank arm 114 fully moves the reset'cam 102 to its extended position to condition the number wheels for being reset, the tail 117 of drive pawl 118 contacts the cam section 100 thereby causing the pawl to move out of engagement with the notch 112 against the bias of spring 115. The crank arm 114 is therefore adapted to be rotated with the trip pawl but is angularly positioned relative to the trip pawl 80 so that the reset cam 102 will be rotated to the position shown in FIG. 5 to condition the register for being reset and the drive pawl 118 will be pivoted to release crank arm 114 before the trip pawl 80 is rotated sufficiently to release the reset drive plate 22 for resetting the number of wheels of the counters.

As mentioned hereinbefore the cam assembly 38 includes a pivotal latch 120 for holding the reset cam 102 in its extended or reset position as shown in FIG. 5 to thereby ensure that the cam 102 does not inadvertently return to its initial angular position shown in FIG. 4 after the drive pawl 118 disconnects the crank arm 114 from the trip shaft 79. After release of the pawl 118 the continued counterclockwise rotation of the trip shaft 79 to the phantom line position shown in FIG. 5 causes the trip pawl 80 to rotate sufficiently to actuate latch pawl 24. Upon actuation of the latch pawl the reset drive plate 22 is freed to rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1. under the bias of the reset spring 32 until the cam on the reset drive plate pivotally cams the pawl 50 outwardly to release the control plate 18. Thus, the control plate is also freed for movement in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 under the bias of its drive spring 28 to its initial position. The rotation of the control plate is accompanied by a corresponding rotation of the center shaft 16 and reshift cam to reshift the shafts of the number wheel to condition the counters for counting. During this return movement of the reshift cam 100 a pin 124 carried by the cam engages an inwardly projecting flange 125 on the end of an arm 126 of the latch to pivot the latch 120 in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5 against the bias of a tension spring 127 and thereby releases the cam 102. The cam 102 may thereby be returned by its own weight to the position shown in FIG. 4. Additionally, the latch 12-0 is provided with a cam edge 128 overlying a recess -122 adapted to engage a pin 123 on the cam 102 to rotate the cam 102 in a counterclockwise direction sufficiently to allow the slide 36 to be shifted to the right as viewed in FIG. by the reshift cam 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown an embodiment of the operating control unit or module of the present invention which advantageously is adapted to be readily mounted on one end of existing resettable registers, particularly those registers of the delayed shaft shift variety, for converting the registers to a single handle mechanism. The control unit includes a pair of upright generally parallel frame members or plates 210 securely mounted by brackets 212 on the end plate 20 of the register in such a manner that a rotatable center shaft extension 216 and a rotatable trip shift extension 218 carried by the frame members are positioned coaxialily of the center shaft 16 and trip shaft 79 of the register. As shown in FIG. 2 the extensions 216 and 218 each carry a pin 220 for securely coupling the extensions to the shafts and assuring a direct driving connection therebetween. In the embodiment illustrated the coiled control plate drive spring 28 with one end suitably fixed relative to the frame such as by mounting on the stationary pin 222, is mounted on the center shaft extension 216 for driving the extension 216 and therefore the control plate 18 clockwise. As mentioned hereinbefore this is effective for conditioning the register for registering a subsequent fuel delivery.

Supported on the free end of the center shaft extension 216 for rotation independently thereof is an input sleeve coupling 226 adapted for mounting the manually operated control lever 14 located on the exterior of the fuel dispensing apparatus for rotation between its angular ON and OFF positions. The input sleeve coupling 226 is provided with an axially extending, inwardly facing drive lug 230 which abuts a complementary lug 232 carried by the coaxially mounted bushing 238 to provide a oneway counter-clockwise abutment drive between the manual lever 14 and the center shaft 16 of the register, the bushing 238 being fixedly secured to the center shaft extension 216 for rotation therewith. Upon completion of a fuel delivery, the manual lever 14 is rotated counterclockwise to its OFF position to deactivate the dispensing apparatus. Such rotation not only directly drives the sleeve coupling 226 but also causes rotation of the center shaft 16 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 through thee cooperative driving connection between the lugs 230 and 232. In that manner the control plate 18 fixed to the shaft 16 is moved to its extended position to load its drive spring 28 while the reset drive plate 22 rotatably loads the reset spring 32 for a subsequent resetting operation and the cam 100 is moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 to permit a subsequent shift of the counter shafts 12. As mentioned hereinbefore, the rotation of the manual lever 14 to its OFF position is suitably limited by contact between the boss 108 carried by cam 100 and the arm 114, as shown in FIG. 4. Conversely, rotation of the manually operated lever 14 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 from its OFF position illustrated in FIG. 2 to its ON position results in nondriving separation of drive lug 230 from lug 232.

As shown in FIG. 2, the input sleeve coupling 226 is additionally provided with a gear 242 which meshes with gear 244 rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft 222 for driving the trip shaft extension 218 upon clockwise rotation of the lever 14. As best seen in FIG. 2, gear 244 is provided with an axially extending drive lug 246 which drives the coaxially mounted gear 248 through its driven lug 250. Preferably, the lugs 246, 250 are spaced as shown, when the lever 14 is in its OFF position to compensate for the difference in angular travel by the lever 14 and the trip shaft 79. As the control lever 14 is rotated clockwise to its ON position, it will not only separate the driving connection between the coupling 226 and the center shaft extension 216 but will move lug 246 toward lug 250 and eventually effect one-way driving engagement therebetween, causing rotation of trip shaft extension 218 through the direct drive between gear 248 and gear 254 aflixed to extension 218. Thus, clockwise rotation of lever 14 effects a corresponding rotation of trip shaft 79 through the gear train 244, 248, 254. In this manner crank arm 114 is rotated to drive the cam section 102 for conditioning the register for being reset and to cause trip pawl 86 to release the latch pawl 24 permitting the reset spring 32 to drive the reset drive plate 22 causing reset of the register. As the reset drive mechanism resets the register the cam 90 on reset drive plate 22 will move pawl 50 outwardly releasing the control plate 18 and permitting clockwise rotation thereof by its drive spring 28 to condition the register for registering. The resultant clockwise rotation of center shaft extension 216 moves lug 232 toward the new position assumed by driving lug 230. However, lug 232 is not thereby moved into contact with lug 230 since rotation of center shaft 16 is desirably about 60 while the lever 14 had moved lug 230 through an arc of about 90. After the fuel delivery is complete the manually operated lever 14 is again rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 toward its OFF position to not only load the reset drive spring 32 and control plate drive spring 28 but also to permit counterclockwise rotation of trip shaft 79 by spring 82 and enable the releasable drive pawl 118 to reengage the notch 112.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings there is illustrated another embodiment of the operating control unit or module of the present invention which can be easily mounted on conventional or delayed shaft shift registers. As in the aforedescribed embodiment, the module shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 includes a pair of spaced generally parallel frame members or plates 310 which support a center shaft extension 316 and a trip shaft extension 318 for coupling with the respective center shaft 16 and trip shaft 79 of the register as the module unit is secured to the end plate 20 of the register. Additionally, the single manually operated lever 14 is suitably coupled to an input sleeve coupling 326 mounted for rotation on the extension 316. The coupling fixedly mounts an input plate 324 coaxially of the center shaft extension 316 for rotation with the coupling 326 independently of the extension. The input plate 324 is provided with an outwardly projecting roller 328 adjacent the periphery thereof which, upon clockwise rotation of the input plate, comes into contact with a foot 330 of the pivotal lever 332 rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft 322 of the module. A drive arm 334 is also mounted for rotation on shaft 322 and is provided with an inwardly projecting flange 336 which overlies and is urged into contact with an edge 338 of the lever 332 by a spring 340 carried by the lever. An elongated arcuate leg portion 342 of drive arm 334 extends below shaft 222 and carries on its free end a drive pin 344 operatively mounted within a slot 346 of a trip shaft drive lever 348 for rotating the lever 348 and the trip shaft extension 318 afiixed thereto in a clockwise angular direction against the bias of trip pawl spring 82. Thus, as the roller 328 on input plate 324 drives lever 332 clockwise it moves the trip shaft drive lever 348 clockwise to first condition the register for being reset and then reset the register in much the same manner as described both hereinbefore and in US. Pat. No. 3,332,619. As clockwise rotation of the input plate 324 continues, the roller 328 drops from the foot 330 of the rotatable lever 332 permitting the lever to be returned to its original position by the action of the trip pawl spring 82.

As best seen in FIG. 7 the input plate 324 is further provided with a peripherally projecting stop portion 350 which contacts the fixed shaft 322 and limits the clockwise rotation of lever 14. Additionally, the control plate drive spring 28 is mounted on the center shaft extension 316 for suitably driving the control plate 18 in a clockwise direction when the cam surface 90 on the reset drive plate 22 moves the latching pawl 50 out of contact with the control plate.

Rotatably mounted on the center shaft extension 316 intermediate the control plate drive spring 28 and the input plate 324 is a rotatable output plate 352 fixed to the center shaft extension 316 for rotation therewith. The output plate 352 is provided with an outwardly projecting flange 354 adjacent the periphery thereof for driving contact by the inwardly projecting flange 356' on the input plate 324 during the counterclockwise rotation thereof. The output plate 352 is also provided with a peripheral cam surface 360 against which is constantly urged by the spring 366 a cam follower leg 362 of the pivotal interlock 364. Advantageously, the interlock includes a shoulder portion 368 overlying the plane of travel of the input plates inwardly projecting flange 356, so that as the input plate is rotated clockwise from the OFF position illustrated in FIG. 7, the flange 356 comes into contact with shoulder portion 368 at about the same time the roller 32% reaches the foot 330 of the lever 332. Continued clockwise rotation of the input plate causes the flange 356 to cam the interlock outwardly until the shoulder portion 368 falls behind the flange and prevents counterclockwise rotation of the input plate. Thus, the interlock provides a mechanism whereby after movement of the manual lever 14 through an arc of about 45 and before the register is conditioned for resetting, the manually operated lever 14 is locked against return to its OFF position until the resetting of the register is completed. The nondriving arcuate travel of the lever 14- to the point of interlock is permissible in view of the smaller angular movement required of the trip shaft.

After the register has been reset, it is automatically conditioned for registering in the manner indicated hereinbefore. The latter operation is accompanied by clockwise rotation of the output plate which cams the interlock 364 out of its interlocking condition to permit the manual lever 14 to be rotated counterclockwise to its OFF posi tion. As the lever is so rotated, it causes counterclockwise rotation of the input plate and driving abutment between the inwardly projecting flange 356 on the input plate 324 and the outwardly projecting flange 354 on the output plate 352 thereby loading the reset spring 32 and control plate drive spring 28. As can be appreciated, when the roller 3-28 on the input plate initially moves counterclockwise it comes into contact with the back of lever foot 330 at about the same time flange 356 drivingly abuts flange 354. The roller therefore moves lever 3'32 counterclockwise until it eventually passes over the top of the foot and returns to the position shown in FIG. 7. However, since counterclockwise movement of latch pawl 80' is limited by stop 92, drive arm 334 is held against such movement causing loading of spring 340 for the return of lever 33-2 to the position shown in FIG. 7 when it is released by the roller.

Therefore, as will be appreciated from the foregoing detailed description, the new and improved reset mechanism of the present invention substantially simplifies the operations to be performed by the operator in order to render the fuel dispensing apparatus operable for a fuel delivery. A single manually operated control lever need merely be rotated in one angular direction to automatically condition the register for being reset, reset the reg ister and condition the register for registering. Additionally, upon completion of a fuel delivery and rotation of the manually operated control lever to its OFF position to thereby render the apparatus inoperative for further fuel delivery, the reset spring is loaded for a subsequent resetting operation without shifting the shafts of the number Wheels. Inadvertent movement of the number wheels which might accidentally cause an inaccurate reading of the price and/ or volume of the fuel delivered is thereby avoided. It is also an advantage of the present invention that the new and improved operating control mechanism takes the form of a compact, economical module unit which can be easily mounted on registers having conventional reset mechanisms as Well as delayed shaft shift mechanisms to readily convert all such registers to the single manual lever operation described herein.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure abovedescribed will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An operating control module suitable for mounting on a resettable register having a rotatable cam assembly, a reset drive member for resetting the register and releasable retaining means for the reset drive member comprising an input control movable in forward and reverse directions between first and second positions, a one-Way drive operable upon movement of the input control in its forward direction to its second position for rotating the cam assembly to permit a subsequent resetting operation, and a second drive operable upon movement of the input control in its reverse direction toward its first position for releasing the retaining means and resetting the register.

2. The module of claim 1 wherein the second drive includes a releasable lever rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions and movable in its forward angular direction upon movement of the input control in its reverse direction, said releasable lever being released prior to completion of movement of the input control in its reverse direction to its first position.

3. The module of claim 1 including an output drive spring operable for rotating the cam assembly to condition the register for registering, said one-way drive being operable upon movement of the input control in its forward direction to its second position for loading the output drive spring.

4. The module of claim 1 wherein the second drive is a one-way drive connected to the input control and operable for releasing the retaining means to reset the register.

5. In a counter mechanism having a resettable counter including a rotatable cam assembly for alternatively conditioning the register for counting and for being reset, a reset drive member rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions between initial and extended positions respectively and operable in its reverse angular direction for resetting the counter, spring means for rotating the reset drive member in the reverse angular direction, and releasable latching means for retaining the reset drive member in its extended position; the combination comprising an input control movable in forward and reverse directions between first and second positions, a one-way drive operable upon movement of the input control in its forward direction to its second position to rotate the cam assembly for permitting a subsequent resetting operation and a second drive operative upon movement of the input control in its reverse direction toward its first position for releasing the latching means and resetting the register.

6. The counter mechanism of claim 5 wherein the second drive includes a releasable level rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions and movable in its forward angular direction upon movement of the input control in its reverse direction, said releasable lever being released prior to completion of movement of the input control in its reverse direction to its first position.

7. The counter mechanism of claim 5 including a rotatable control member rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions between initial and extended positions and being operable in its reverse angular direction to rotate the cam assembly for conditioning the register for counting, spring means for driving the control member in its reverse angular direction, said one-way drive being operable upon movement of the input control in its forward direction to its second position for rotating the control member in its forward angular direction to load the spring means.

8. The counter mechanism of claim including an interlock for the input control operative to lock the input control out of its second position during the initial movement of the input control in its reverse direction toward its first position and prior to resetting and conditioning of the register for counting.

9. In a counter mechanism having a resettable register adapted to be alternatively conditioned for resetting and for registering, the combination comprising a rotatable control member rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions between initial and extended positions; releasable retaining means for retaining the control member in its extended position during the resetting of the register, the control member being operable in its reverse angular direction to its initial position for conditioning the register for registering a count subsequent to the resetting of the register; sequencing means operable for sequentially conditioning the register for being reset, resetting the register and conditioning the register for registering; and a manual operator movable in forward and reverse directions between first and second positions and connected to the sequencing means so that when the operator is moved in its reverse direction to its first position the sequencing means sequentially conditions the register for reset, resets the register and actuates the retaining means to release the control member from its extended position for conditioning the register for registering and when the operator is moved in its forward direction to its second position the control member is rotated in its forward angular direction to its extended position.

10. The counter mechanism of claim 9 including a reset drive member rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions between initial and extended positions respectively and operable in its reverse angular direction for resetting the register, second releasable retaining means for retaining the reset drive member in its extended position, wherein the sequencing means includes reset conditioning means movable between initial and extended positions and operable to condition the register for resetting upon movement to its extended position and drive means connecting the manual operator to the reset conditioning means for moving the reset conditioning means to its extended position as the manual operator moves in its reverse direction toward its first position, the drive means being operable after movement of the reset conditioning means to its extended position for actuating the second retaining means to release the reset drive member for resetting the register.

11. The counter mechanism of claim 9 wherein the manual operator is a rotary member coaxial with the rotatable control member and the counter mechanism includes spring drive means for rotating the control member in its reverse angular direction to its initial position for conditioning the register for registering and drive means between the manual operator and the control member to rotate the control member in a forward angular direction to its extended angular position and load the spring drive means upon angular rotation of the manual operator in a forward direction to its second position.

12. The counter mechanism as set forth in claim 9 wherein the sequencing means includes release means for the releasable retaining means; a reset control coaxial with the release means and movable in forward and reverse directions between initial and extended positions, the reset control being operable upon movement in its forward direction to its extended position for conditioning the register for being reset; drive means ope ratively associated with the manual operator for actuating the release means and for moving the reset control to its extended position for conditioning the register for being reset just prior to the actuation of the release means, the drive means including a releasable drive connection between the manual operator and the reset control operable to release the reset control upon conditioning the register for being reset.

13. In a counter mechanism having a resettable register adapted to be alternatively conditioned for counting and for being reset, a reset drive member rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions between initial and extended angular positions respectively and operable in its reverse angular direction for resetting the register, a rotatable control member rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions thereof between initial and extended positions respectively, spring means for driving the reset drive member and control member in their respective reverse angular directions to their initial positions, first releasable retaining means for retaining the reset drive member in its extended position, second releasable retaining means for retaining the control member in is extended position and releasable by the reset drive member upon reverse angular rotation thereof to its initial position, a manual operator rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions thereof between first and second posit-ions respectively and operable in its forward angular direction to its second position for rotating the reset drive member and control member in their respective forward angular directions to their extended angular positions the manual operator being operable in its reverse angular direction to its first position to sequentially condition the register for being reset and actuate the first releasable retaining means to release the reset drive member for resetting the register, the control member being operative to condition the register for registering upon rotation in its reverse angular direction to its initial position.

14. The counter mechanism as set forth in claim 13 including release means for actuating the first releasable retaining means, a reset control coaxial with the release means and rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions between initial and extended positions, the reset control being operable upon movement in its forward angular direction to its extended position for conditioning the register for being reset, drive means operatively associated with the manual operator for actuating the release means to release the reset drive plate for resetting the register and for moving the reset control to its extended position for conditioning the register for being reset just prior to the actuation of the release means.

15'. The counter mechanism of claim 13 including first and second register conditioning means rotatable sequentially between initial and extended positions for alternatively conditioning the register for resetting and for registering during movement of the respective first and second register conditioning means into their extended positions, a reset control movable in forward and reverse directions between initial and extended positions and operable during movement to its extended position to rotate the first register conditioning means to its extended position for conditioning the register for being reset, the second register conditioning means being operative upon rotation to its extended position to rotate the first register conditioning means to its initial position and condition the register for registering, the reset control being operatively connected to the manual operator for movement to its extended position upon rotation of the operator in its reverse angular direction to its first position.

16. The counter mechanism as set forth in claim 13 including a first one-way drive between the manual operator and the control member operable to rotate the control member in its forward angular direction to its extended position upon rotation of the manual operator in its reverse angular direction to its second position to load the spring means for driving the control member and to permit the register to be conditioned for being reset, release means operatively connected to the manual operator for actuating the first releasable retaining means upon rotation of the operator to its first position, a reset control coaxial with the release means and rotatable in for ward and reverse directions between initial and extended positions, the reset control being operable to condition the register for being reset upon rotation in its forward direction, and a second one-Way drive between the manual operator and the reset control to rotate the reset control in its forward angular direction to its extended position upon rotation of the manual operator in its reverse angular direction to its first position for conditioning the register for being reset just prior to actuation of the releasable retaining means by the release means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,045,868 7/ 1962 Carnagua et a1 222-33 3,072,292 1/1963 Haupt et a1. 22233 3,142,442 7/1964 Wild 235-444 RIC-HARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner STANLEY A. WAU, Assistant Examiner 'U.S. Cl. X.R. 22 -33; 23594 

